My Specialty
Wound Care Nursing, Shannon Thomas, Redlands Community Hospital
Solving the puzzle of healing complex wounds
Shannon Thomas, RN, BSN, WCC, OMS
Wound Care & Ostomy Specialist
Redlands Community Hospital
What is the general trajectory of your nursing career?
I knew from a young age that nursing was where I belonged. I began my career in skilled nursing in 2012 and moved into leadership roles, eventually becoming director of nursing.
During those years, I discovered my passion for caring for complex wounds. After becoming wound care certified, I transitioned into the acute care setting, which I find an especially good fit.
What led you to this specialty?
It’s rewarding to see a wound heal through the care I provide, but what drew me in even more was the opportunity to spend meaningful time with patients.
Wound care can be painful and intimidating, so I try to make each interaction a little easier, whether that means making the patient laugh or simply being present. I believe in caring for the whole person, not just the wound.
What do you find most exciting about wound care?
Wound care feels like solving a puzzle. Every wound presents a different challenge, and what works for one patient may not work for another. I enjoy using my assessment skills to figure out what a wound is telling me.
There’s nothing more rewarding than helping a patient make progress and setting them up for the best possible outcome. Seeing a wound heal is wonderful, but what means even more is seeing the patient begin to move forward with their life.
Can you share a patient story that illustrates the impact of your work?
One patient was recovering from an illness that involved abdominal surgery, a large surgical wound, and a colostomy. As she stabilized, she told me that she’d been afraid to look at her wound, and she was overwhelmed by how different her body looked.
She told me that she felt comfortable enough with me to look at the wound for the first time while I was there.
What touched me most was realizing how much she was trying to process at once. She asked me, “Do I still have a belly button?” It was a simple question, but it reminded me that things we take for granted can become incredibly important after a life-changing illness.
Moments like that remind me that wound care is never just about the wound — it’s about giving patients the confidence and knowledge to move forward.
How has wound care changed since you started?
Wound care is constantly evolving. Treatments that were considered best practice years ago may have been replaced by newer, more effective options. Technology, particularly negative pressure wound therapy, has advanced significantly.
However, the foundation will always be a thorough assessment of the wound and peri-wound, and understanding what the patient needs as an individual.
What does it take to be a successful wound care nurse?
Strong clinical assessment skills, critical thinking, adaptability, and compassion. You have to be able to look at the bigger picture. Is the patient mobile or bedbound? Do they have conditions that could affect healing? What will wound care look like when they go home?
You also have to be comfortable with the realities of wound care. We sometimes encounter wounds that aren’t easy on the eyes or the nose! It’s important to stay calm, focused, and compassionate.
Above all, you have to remember that the patient is the one experiencing the physical and emotional impact. Combining clinical judgment with kindness, empathy, and a little humor is what makes a successful wound care nurse.
What are your thoughts on certification?
Certification is incredibly important. I learned about wounds in nursing school, but it was a small part of a broader curriculum. After completing my wound care certification, it felt like I had a new set of glasses on. I was recognizing things I hadn’t known to look for before.
Do you have any professional goals you’d like to share?
One is to obtain my Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN) certification. Wounds, ostomies, and continence are closely connected, but each is also a specialty in its own right.
I’m also excited about continuing to grow the wound care program at Redlands. We’ve built something really special, and I’m proud of what our team has accomplished.
KEITH CARLSON, RN, BSN, NC-BC, has worked as a nurse since 1996 and offers expert professional coaching at www.nursekeith.com.
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